'The Golden Compass', Catholics, Atheists and Ignorance
Philip Pulman must just sit back and laugh at all of this
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New Line has gone to a great expense to bring this story to the big screen. The budget has been reported to be anywhere from $150-180 million, and then there is this whole "getting around the anti-religion" aspect of the campaign. New Line understands that it wasn't all the non-Christians that went out and earned Passion of the Christ $370 million at the domestic box-office and over $610 million worldwide. As "The Atlantic" puts it, "the studios now seem to view the Christian market as it would a difficult girlfriend: elusive and hard to please; ultimately, you keep your distance but still take pains not to irritate her."
The second and third films in the "His Dark Materials" franchise have yet to be greenlit as New Line is waiting to see how well The Golden Compass does. This is probably the main reason they dropped "His Dark Materials" from the title early on, so as not to jump the gun, because while the first book may have lent itself to an adaptation that was easy enough to rid it of the anti-religious elements it is going to get a little trickier as things go along.
As much as Pullman is hated as an atheist he seems to know an awful lot about Christianity and the Bible; a well studied thinker would be a better description in my estimation. In fact the most interesting and altogether impressive story element that I came across in my research is that the story of the central character in the trilogy, Lyra (played by newcomer Dakota Blue Richards in the film). Lyra's story is not only an action/fantasy, but a coming-of-age story assumed to be a rewriting of the Bible's Genesis, with Lyra replaying the role of Eve.
From what I can tell, the trilogy culminates in a sexual awakening for 12-year-old Lyra in the final book. Yes, there are epic battles (presumable Heaven vs. Earth). Yes, a figure referred to as God does die. Oh, and Lyra apparently engages in an ambiguous "kiss" with a young man named Will serving as her sexual awakening and first step into adulthood.
If you are wondering whether or not the figure killed at the end of "Amber Spyglass" really is God, assume what you will from this excerpt taken from ChristianPost.com:
In the final book of the series, "The Amber Spyglass," "God" is portrayed as a phony and liar. Will is told by two fallen homosexual angels that "The Authority" goes by many names including, "God, the Creator, the Lord, Yahweh, El, Adonai, the King, the Father, the Almighty," although "he was never the creator." "God" was just the first angel to be created from "Dust." By the series' end, the characters succeed in killing him.
Now, from what I have read, Pullman doesn't necessarily disagree with the idea of God or a higher power, he seems to only disagree with the thought that God is a guy with a beard running things in the sky. If I have my story straight, it is this idea of God that dies, not the idea of something greater than us. Pullman has been quoted in interviews questioning "Who created the universe?" "What are we here for?" and "What happens when we die?" I can relate to Pullman and these questions. I have had long discussions with friends, religious and atheists both, on these same subjects. One side never providing evidence of their beliefs (this is usually called "faith") and the other just left wondering and moderately satisfied in not knowing (you guess which is which).
I was raised Lutheran, but all this hatred Christians, Catholics and all organized religions seem to have for those with differing opinions has really made me reconsider (Tom Cruise anyone?). Oddly enough the Catholic League is responding to Pullman's books exactly how the Magisterium reacts to Dust in his stories. You would think they would have a little more sense than that. On top of that, from what I can tell, Pullman's books aren't about leading a life of sin in as much as they are about free will and leading a fulfilling life on Earth. This is where the reverse story of Eve comes into play, and it is an interesting one. Why would anyone be opposed to people leading virtuous lives, no matter what their belief system is? Why do people get so offended?
While religious opinion in the film adaptations seems relatively safe for now, the killing of a higher power and a final plot point involving the young Lyra and a gentleman named Will are sure to prevent obstacles for screenwriters should The Golden Compass succeed and the sequels are greenlit.
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